Adenauer Praised by Ben-gurion As ‘great Statesman of Our Time’

Former Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion today lauded outgoing West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, who, Mr. Ben-Gurion said, “will be remembered in German and European history as one of the great statesmen of our time.”

In a statement issued in connection with the Chancellor’s retirement tomorrow, Mr. Ben-Gurion recalled Dr. Adenauer’s anti-Nazi record and stressed his role in West Germany’s revival making it “one of the strongest powers of Western Europe and the closest ally of De Gaulle.”

Mr. Ben-Gurion said that Dr. Adenauer’s “moral qualities were revealed perhaps most clearly in his attitude to Israel.” Noting the fact that East Germany completely ignored Israel’s reparations claims, Mr. Ben-Gurion stressed Dr. Adenauer’s role in the reparations agreement and its implementation.